His blood was starting to boil. It was like someone had lit a fire inside of him, and any second now, he would start spewing.
The gathering had turned into a party, more or less. People were talking and laughing. Sharing stories and eating their fill. It would have been a perfect evening, tainted by nothing if it wasn't for Peter.
Paul didn't want to cause a scene, but he was getting fed up. Peter was blatantly ignoring a man who had been sharing a story with him. He had been talking with everyone until the men James had sent had arrived.
Now it was like a line had been drawn down the middle of the room. Jews on one side. Gentiles on the other. Any who dared cross the line were ignored.
What was going on with Peter?
A connection formed in Paul's mind. This hadn't started until the men James had sent arrived...
He bit back a sneer. Was that it? Was Peter ashamed for James' Jewish men to see him fraternizing with Gentiles? Well, that was not okay. God loved those people, too. Peter, above all people, new that! There was no way he was just going to let Peter treat his brothers and sisters in Christ like that.
Paul marched over Peter's table, and cleared his throat so loud that almost everyone in the room stopped talking. Paul didn't care though. This was wrong, and somebody needed to call Peter on it.
Based on Galatians 2:11-12
"But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party." Galatians 2:11-12
You know, it's not just kids, teenagers, or young adults that suffer from peer pressure. It's full grown, church going, leadership wielding adults that face peer pressure, too. And lots of times, they give into peer pressure, too.
Yeah, they do.
Look at Peter. He had no hatred for the Gentiles. He genuinely cared for them. In fact, God opened up the ministry for the Gentiles through Peter! He was the first one arguing on their behalf.
But so many Christians didn't understand God's plan (the plan to save people like you and me), and they strongly, vehemently opposed the Gentiles. Some even demanded that the Gentiles start following the laws of Moses. One day, Peter gave in. His friend James sent some people to Peter, and Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, possibly in order to prevent strife among them.
Paul was right. Peter was in the wrong. For one moment, he let the opinions of what others thought about the people who ate the "wrong" kind of meat mean more the God's opinion of them. Maybe it was with good intentions...maybe he was just trying to prevent a blowout, but regardless, peer pressure was the deciding factor that day.
It can happen with any of us. It can happen no matter how old you are. It can happen to the most Godly, experienced Christian out there. When we stop focusing on God's opinions, and we start favoring man's flawed opinions, we fall into Christian peer pressure.
And Paul's right. It's wrong. Always, always, always, place God's opinion first.
V. Joy Palmer
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
"Living A Faith Filled Life ... Get It Done"
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to Faith. Hebrews 11:7
I love Noah. He perfectly exemplifies what faith in God looks like because of his choices. He chooses to heed the words of God over what he sees with his eyes and what He knows with his mind. God says, "Make yourself an ark ....with three decks ....I Myself will bring the floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh .... But I will establish My covenant with you; and You shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and Your sons' wives with you. And .......of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be..." Genesis 6:14-21 As God fills Noah in on His plan Noah makes the choice to heed all His words and act on them. They became the substance that motivated all his choices. His choice to heed God's divine warning became the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things not seen both literally and figuratively. Rain, floodwaters, Arks, destroying all flesh? All new concepts ...things not know, and not seen in the earth before, But because God spoke ... Noah believed and acted accordingly.
Because of Noah 's faith in God above all else he "saved his household and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." And the thing is, you and I have the same choice to make as we walk out a life of faith and become heirs of that same righteousness. We too must choose to live according to the Almighty's words because we too have been divinely warned of things to come. We too have the same choice to make that Noah did. Will we make the words He speaks the substance of all our actions as we place all our hope in Him, the Maker of heaven and earth, and ... all that is to come.
Thus Noah did, according to all that God commander him, so he did. Genesis 6:22 Because of his faith in God, Noah got the job done! Faith in God makes the impossible happen! Even building arks and saving a lost and during world.
I love Noah. He perfectly exemplifies what faith in God looks like because of his choices. He chooses to heed the words of God over what he sees with his eyes and what He knows with his mind. God says, "Make yourself an ark ....with three decks ....I Myself will bring the floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh .... But I will establish My covenant with you; and You shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and Your sons' wives with you. And .......of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be..." Genesis 6:14-21 As God fills Noah in on His plan Noah makes the choice to heed all His words and act on them. They became the substance that motivated all his choices. His choice to heed God's divine warning became the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things not seen both literally and figuratively. Rain, floodwaters, Arks, destroying all flesh? All new concepts ...things not know, and not seen in the earth before, But because God spoke ... Noah believed and acted accordingly.
Because of Noah 's faith in God above all else he "saved his household and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." And the thing is, you and I have the same choice to make as we walk out a life of faith and become heirs of that same righteousness. We too must choose to live according to the Almighty's words because we too have been divinely warned of things to come. We too have the same choice to make that Noah did. Will we make the words He speaks the substance of all our actions as we place all our hope in Him, the Maker of heaven and earth, and ... all that is to come.
Thus Noah did, according to all that God commander him, so he did. Genesis 6:22 Because of his faith in God, Noah got the job done! Faith in God makes the impossible happen! Even building arks and saving a lost and during world.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"He Went Forth For Me"
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like driver's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Lord, I read a verse today that made me want to declare to both You and the world at large "Yet will I rejoice in You!" No matter what Lord, I will give You, the God of my salvation, all my praise!
"You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. Habakkuk 3:13
Thank you, Lord, for going forth and bringing me my salvation!
God Bless!!!
Staff of Snack Time Devotions
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Opportunities
"I don't understand. Why are you sending us now?"
Paul glanced up from the table where he and his scribe were working on a letter to the people of Achaia. Paul had been looking over the letter to see if he needed to add anything else, when the men arrived. He had sent a messenger to the group explaining that they would be accompanying the letter and remaining in Achaia until Paul arrived. While they weren't being angry and rude, they were clearly confused by his decision.
Another brother with sandy brown hair piped up. "You said yourself that you don't expect to be able to make the trip for a while still. Wouldn't it be better if we delivered the letter to the church in Achaia, and then made our way back to you? This way we could still be of service to you."
Paul shifted in his chair so that he could make eye contact with the group. "Yes, that is true. However, I want the people of Achaia to be prepared."
"They said they were prepared."
"But perhaps they weren't. I've spent a great deal of time boasting of their zeal and preparation to the people of Macedonia. I will not put them or myself in the position of being a liar. This is an opportunity to back their faith and claims up with the works those things require." Paul smiled impishly at them. "Perhaps it is even the same opportunity for you."
Based on 2 Corinthians 9:2-5
"For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction." 2 Corinthians 9:2-5
You can't expect what you don't inspect.
Has anyone ever said this to you? I hate it when people say this to me because I am the kind of person who does everything humanly possible to have it covered. If I know, I do.
While this would have driven me crazy, I like that Paul WOULD NOT put them or himself in the position of being a liar.
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
2 Corinthians 13:5
Have you ever felt you've got this Christian thing figured out? You understand. You know what to do and when. Then God unexpectedly thrust you into a situation where you have to use it! See, if we are going to zealously serve God, He WILL NOT put us or Himself in the position of being a liar. God doesn't lie. We may, but God doesn't. In order for us to have the works to back up our faith, God has us use our faith.
You can't expect what you don't inspect.
All those things that we belly ache about, that frustrate and infuriate us, that make us feel like God doesn't have our back...well, it's the exact opposite. God's giving us the chance to be the people we claim we want to be. They are opportunities.
V. Joy Palmer
Paul glanced up from the table where he and his scribe were working on a letter to the people of Achaia. Paul had been looking over the letter to see if he needed to add anything else, when the men arrived. He had sent a messenger to the group explaining that they would be accompanying the letter and remaining in Achaia until Paul arrived. While they weren't being angry and rude, they were clearly confused by his decision.
Another brother with sandy brown hair piped up. "You said yourself that you don't expect to be able to make the trip for a while still. Wouldn't it be better if we delivered the letter to the church in Achaia, and then made our way back to you? This way we could still be of service to you."
Paul shifted in his chair so that he could make eye contact with the group. "Yes, that is true. However, I want the people of Achaia to be prepared."
"They said they were prepared."
"But perhaps they weren't. I've spent a great deal of time boasting of their zeal and preparation to the people of Macedonia. I will not put them or myself in the position of being a liar. This is an opportunity to back their faith and claims up with the works those things require." Paul smiled impishly at them. "Perhaps it is even the same opportunity for you."
Based on 2 Corinthians 9:2-5
"For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction." 2 Corinthians 9:2-5
You can't expect what you don't inspect.
Has anyone ever said this to you? I hate it when people say this to me because I am the kind of person who does everything humanly possible to have it covered. If I know, I do.
While this would have driven me crazy, I like that Paul WOULD NOT put them or himself in the position of being a liar.
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
2 Corinthians 13:5
Have you ever felt you've got this Christian thing figured out? You understand. You know what to do and when. Then God unexpectedly thrust you into a situation where you have to use it! See, if we are going to zealously serve God, He WILL NOT put us or Himself in the position of being a liar. God doesn't lie. We may, but God doesn't. In order for us to have the works to back up our faith, God has us use our faith.
You can't expect what you don't inspect.
All those things that we belly ache about, that frustrate and infuriate us, that make us feel like God doesn't have our back...well, it's the exact opposite. God's giving us the chance to be the people we claim we want to be. They are opportunities.
V. Joy Palmer
"Living A Faith Filled Life ... Saying Yes"
"By faith Enoch was translated so that He did not see death," and was not found because God had translated him"; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:5-6
Next up after Abel in the list of our heroes of faith is Enoch, another man that we know very little about. We know that Jared was his father and that He was sixty-five years old when he became the father of Methuselah. We know that for the next three hundred years he had more sons and daughters and that during those next three hundred years he walked with God. We know that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:19-24 We know that he pleased God.
That's it. That's what we know. He was born, he lived his three hundred and sixty-five years walking with God and then was translated so that He didn't see death. He was here living his life and then 'he was not found because God had translated him.'
So what truth about faith can we take from this man that we know so little about? The key is found in the first two words of Hebrews 11:5 and they are ... "By faith." "By faith Enoch was translated so that He did not see death..." The use of the words 'by faith' means that Enoch was involved in the process! It means that in all that walking and talking and pleasing God ... that God had filled him in on the plan. Enoch believed Him and by faith he trusted God, believed, and was rewarded as God 'took/translated' him.
We, like Enoch, can walk and talk and please God as we too, by faith, step into the things of God. Verse six says, 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.' Enoch's testimony was that he pleased God. Enoch pleased God because he knew God and by faith he stepped into the reward God had for Him. He, by faith stepped into the call/plan that God has for Him. (Consider this thought ... two men have been taken without seeing death which according to the word, we are 'all appointed to do once.' Hebrews 9:27 Enoch and Elijah however were both taken by God. In Revelations 11 it talks about two witness that come in the power of God, do signs and wonders, and prophesy/testify for an appointed time of 1260 days before they see death and then are raised up and once again taken into heaven.) Could it be that, Enoch, by faith stepped into a greater plan that isn't finished as of yet?
By faith you and I can take a close look at this man who pleased God and who by faith stepped into the reward of being not only in His presence but in the very center of His will! We too can live a life of faith, pleasing God as we step into the call He has for us as well.
By faith we too can step into the impossible as we trust Him to bring His words to pass in our lives! We, like Enoch, can have this testimony, 'that we pleased God' as we, By Faith, say, "Yes," to His plan.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:5-6
Next up after Abel in the list of our heroes of faith is Enoch, another man that we know very little about. We know that Jared was his father and that He was sixty-five years old when he became the father of Methuselah. We know that for the next three hundred years he had more sons and daughters and that during those next three hundred years he walked with God. We know that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:19-24 We know that he pleased God.
That's it. That's what we know. He was born, he lived his three hundred and sixty-five years walking with God and then was translated so that He didn't see death. He was here living his life and then 'he was not found because God had translated him.'
So what truth about faith can we take from this man that we know so little about? The key is found in the first two words of Hebrews 11:5 and they are ... "By faith." "By faith Enoch was translated so that He did not see death..." The use of the words 'by faith' means that Enoch was involved in the process! It means that in all that walking and talking and pleasing God ... that God had filled him in on the plan. Enoch believed Him and by faith he trusted God, believed, and was rewarded as God 'took/translated' him.
We, like Enoch, can walk and talk and please God as we too, by faith, step into the things of God. Verse six says, 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.' Enoch's testimony was that he pleased God. Enoch pleased God because he knew God and by faith he stepped into the reward God had for Him. He, by faith stepped into the call/plan that God has for Him. (Consider this thought ... two men have been taken without seeing death which according to the word, we are 'all appointed to do once.' Hebrews 9:27 Enoch and Elijah however were both taken by God. In Revelations 11 it talks about two witness that come in the power of God, do signs and wonders, and prophesy/testify for an appointed time of 1260 days before they see death and then are raised up and once again taken into heaven.) Could it be that, Enoch, by faith stepped into a greater plan that isn't finished as of yet?
By faith you and I can take a close look at this man who pleased God and who by faith stepped into the reward of being not only in His presence but in the very center of His will! We too can live a life of faith, pleasing God as we step into the call He has for us as well.
By faith we too can step into the impossible as we trust Him to bring His words to pass in our lives! We, like Enoch, can have this testimony, 'that we pleased God' as we, By Faith, say, "Yes," to His plan.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
All Talk?
"When will Paul return?"
Archegos looked at the young, eager man in front of him. He wasn't any older then fifteen, and yet even he wanted to serve and help. He was practically bouncing in excitement. But would his response crush him?
"Not for many months."
As expected, his face dropped. The bouncing stopped. A soft, "Oh," escaped his lips.
What could Archegos tell him, other then what he'd told himself and countless others in the congregation?
He motioned for the young man to sit beside him on the bench. "I know that wasn't the answer you wanted to hear."
"No," He started. "What are we supposed to do now? Here I was thinking Paul would arrive any day...now I found out it will be months. Just sitting around waiting makes me feel useless."
"So, don't sit around and wait," Archegos said.
"What?"
"Don't sit around and wait. There are so many things we can do to prepare for his arrival, or to aid him in his travels, not to mention further the spreading of the Gospel." Understanding started to dawn in his eyes as Archegos continued. "We could take an offering and have it ready for when Paul gets here. We will continue to have prayer meetings and times devoted to studying God's Word. The women have already started making clothes for the widows, orphans, and the less fortunate. The men have started volunteering to help others with hard labor and the harvest. There is still much to be done. The question is will you use your zeal to serve God and prepare now?"
Archegos grinned as he jumped from the bench. "What can I do first?"
Based on 2 Corinthians 9:2
I love the people of Achaia. Why? Well, every reason why I love them is in this single verse.
"For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them." 2 Corinthians 9:2
They were ready. They had zeal. They had so much zeal, that they couldn't just wait around. So, they went and got ready. They were so ready that news of their readiness reached other Christians in other lands. So ready, that Paul boasted about them frequently. So ready, that their zeal rubbed off on the people of Macedonia.
Awesome!
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:13
"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:44
I read that one verse about the people of Achaia, and it hit me hard. Am I saying, "Come Lord," but not doing anything to prepare? Am saying that I want more of God, but not taking the steps to further my relationship with God? Am I saying that I want to see more ministry and more people saved, but not bothering to be Jesus' hands and feet?
Am I saying everything, but never doing anything?
I don't want to be all talk. I want to be like the people of Achaia. Zealous and ready. People of God, this is what we need to be like. We can talk all we want, but it's the actual preparation beforehand that will make the difference.
Archegos looked at the young, eager man in front of him. He wasn't any older then fifteen, and yet even he wanted to serve and help. He was practically bouncing in excitement. But would his response crush him?
"Not for many months."
As expected, his face dropped. The bouncing stopped. A soft, "Oh," escaped his lips.
What could Archegos tell him, other then what he'd told himself and countless others in the congregation?
He motioned for the young man to sit beside him on the bench. "I know that wasn't the answer you wanted to hear."
"No," He started. "What are we supposed to do now? Here I was thinking Paul would arrive any day...now I found out it will be months. Just sitting around waiting makes me feel useless."
"So, don't sit around and wait," Archegos said.
"What?"
"Don't sit around and wait. There are so many things we can do to prepare for his arrival, or to aid him in his travels, not to mention further the spreading of the Gospel." Understanding started to dawn in his eyes as Archegos continued. "We could take an offering and have it ready for when Paul gets here. We will continue to have prayer meetings and times devoted to studying God's Word. The women have already started making clothes for the widows, orphans, and the less fortunate. The men have started volunteering to help others with hard labor and the harvest. There is still much to be done. The question is will you use your zeal to serve God and prepare now?"
Archegos grinned as he jumped from the bench. "What can I do first?"
Based on 2 Corinthians 9:2
I love the people of Achaia. Why? Well, every reason why I love them is in this single verse.
"For I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them." 2 Corinthians 9:2
They were ready. They had zeal. They had so much zeal, that they couldn't just wait around. So, they went and got ready. They were so ready that news of their readiness reached other Christians in other lands. So ready, that Paul boasted about them frequently. So ready, that their zeal rubbed off on the people of Macedonia.
Awesome!
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:13
"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:44
I read that one verse about the people of Achaia, and it hit me hard. Am I saying, "Come Lord," but not doing anything to prepare? Am saying that I want more of God, but not taking the steps to further my relationship with God? Am I saying that I want to see more ministry and more people saved, but not bothering to be Jesus' hands and feet?
Am I saying everything, but never doing anything?
I don't want to be all talk. I want to be like the people of Achaia. Zealous and ready. People of God, this is what we need to be like. We can talk all we want, but it's the actual preparation beforehand that will make the difference.
V. Joy Palmer
"All Things"
God Bless!!!
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